Girls who give back: Sisters have raised $65,000 for Mary Bridge

Payton Allen was a baby when she first met pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Dale Hall. This month, she reunited with Dr. Hall and his wife, Susie.

By Cole Cosgrove

A girl who needed heart surgery as a baby is now 12 years old, and she’s giving back to the hospital that saved her life.

Since she was 5 years old, Payton Allen and her sister Samantha have raised money to help other young patients at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Wash.

They've raised more than $65,000 over the past seven years.

“I keep fundraising because you can see how much it really makes a difference and how important it is to the hospital,” Payton said during a visit this month to Mary Bridge from her home in Texas. “Without donations the hospital wouldn’t be where it is today and saving so many lives.”

Payton stopped by Mary Bridge to drop off this year’s donation, and to reunite with her pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Dale Hall, and his wife, Susie.

“Dr. Hall and his team touched Payton's heart in more ways than one,” the Allen family writes on their website, Our Hearts Joined. “Dr. Hall literally touched Payton's heart during two surgeries, but he also touched her heart and the hearts of her family by being so much more than just her surgeon. Dr. Hall and his team cared for the entire family during Payton's first 7 months of life and now it is time for our family to touch the hearts of other children at Mary Bridge.”

Their donations support the Dr. Dale and Susie Hall Art Cart, Tree House: A Place for Families, and a fund that gives to "Where The Need is Greatest" at Mary Bridge.

In 2009, Payton and Samantha's work was honored at the Mary Bridge Heroes Golden Rocking Chair Youth Award at the Mary Bridge Festival of Trees.

During one of Patyon's return visits to Mary Bridge, the parent of a young patient who needed surgery told her, "You give me hope."